Plant a Tree - Planning

Plant a Tree - Planning

Plant a Tree - Soil Amendments

Plant a Tree - Soil Amendments

Plant a Tree - Preparing the Hole

Plant a Tree - Preparing the Hole

Plant a Tree - Preparing the Tree or Shrub to be Planted

Plant a Tree - Preparing the Tree or Shrub to be Planted

Plant a Tree - Placing the Tree in the Hole

Plant a Tree - Placing the Tree in the Hole

Plant a Tree - Backfilling the Planting Hole

Plant a Tree - Backfilling the Planting Hole

Plant a Tree - Completing the Backfill Hole

Plant a Tree - Completing the Backfill Hole

Plant a Tree - Mulching Your Tree

Plant a Tree - Mulching Your Tree

Plant a Tree - Watering Your New Tree

Plant a Tree - Watering Your New Tree

Plant a Tree - Planning

Plant a Tree - Planning

Pot your Plants - Choosing a Plant Container

Pot your Plants - Choosing a Plant Container

How to Winterize an Ornamental Garden

How to Winterize an Ornamental Garden

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April Gardening Tips

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May Gardening Tips

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June Gardening Tips

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July Gardening Tips

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September Gardening Tips

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Fast Fall Lawn Revival

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Planting Cool Weather Vegetables

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Top Fall Gardening Tips

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Keeping Color in the Garden

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Top Lawn And Garden Watering Tips

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Late Summer Lawn Care

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End of Summer Garden Maintenance

Top Tropical Garden Plants

Top Tropical Garden Plants

Summer Watering Secrets

Summer Watering Secrets

Making The Most Of A Mid-Summer Garden

Making The Most Of A Mid-Summer Garden

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Tips For A Deer Free Garden

Control Garden Pests The Natural Way

Control Garden Pests The Natural Way

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Pruning The Perfect Summer Garden

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Early Summer Gardening Tips

 Springtime Vegetable and Herb Planting

Springtime Vegetable and Herb Planting

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Spring Annuals Brighten Any Garden

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Secrets To Spring Garden Success

Bring Your Lawn To Life

Bring Your Lawn To Life

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Spring Vegetable Garden Secrets

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Spring Gardening With Perennials, Annuals And Bulbs

Top Tree Planting Tips

Top Tree Planting Tips

Spring Tree And Shrub Gardening Secrets

Spring Tree And Shrub Gardening Secrets

Get Garden Ready For Spring

Get Garden Ready For Spring

Great Garden Winterization Tips

Great Garden Winterization Tips

Make Garden Mosquitoes Disappear

Make Garden Mosquitoes Disappear

Fall Pruning Procedures

Fall Pruning Procedures

Fast Fall Garden Clean Up

Fast Fall Garden Clean Up

Garden Tool Maintenance

Garden Tool Maintenance

Storing Garden Machines for Winter

Storing Garden Machines for Winter

Planting Trees And Shrubs

Planting Trees And Shrubs

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Storm Damage Pruning

Preparing Container Plants for the Move Indoors

Preparing Container Plants for the Move Indoors

Putting The Garden To Bed

Putting The Garden To Bed

Raking & Bagging Leaves

Raking & Bagging Leaves

Christmas Tree Shopping Tips

Christmas Tree Shopping Tips

Composting & Mulching Fall Leaves

Composting & Mulching Fall Leaves

Fall Garden Tips For A Simpler Spring

Fall Garden Tips For A Simpler Spring

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Mitch Baker

American Plant Garden Center and Nursery

www.americanplant.net  

(301) 469-7690

Mitch Baker is the Horticultural Specialist at the American Plant Garden Center and Nursery, in Bethesda, MD, focusing on natural gardening products and organic gardening. Mitch is a MD Certified Professional Horticulturist, with more than 34 years of experience in the garden center industry. He has studied at numerous horticultural institutions from New York to Oregon, and also serves on the board of the Rachel Carson Council.

Plant a Tree - Watering Your New Tree

Professional Horticulturist Mitch Baker from the American Plant Food Company demonstrates how to water your freshly planted tree or shrub. Water is key to getting this tree off to a good start and keeping it going.

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Hi, I am Mitch Baker with American Plant Food Company. We now have our tree planted properly, we have mulch around the base of the tree, but we need to follow-up now with some water. Water is key to getting this tree off to a good start and keeping it going. So, basically a newly planted tree like this, even established trees, need about an inch of water a week. Now, you can use a rain gauge to determine how much an inch is in your garden, but you basically want to apply a good volume of water around the base of the tree so that you can see it soaking into the root zone. You know its not running off, you know its going right into the root zone. This initial watering is going to help to settle the soil, help to get the air pockets out, help to dissolve the granular biostimulant that we used earlier. So, this is a critical watering, got to be done right at the time of planting. Look how much water is being taken up in this new planting area. I am using a water breaker, which is a water wand, it helps create a soft flow of water at high volume. So, were not washing away any mulch, were getting an adequate amount of water right into the root zone. We can see it soaking in. We know its doing its job. Soaker hoses, sprinklers, watering wands, all of these things would be available at any garden center, garden store or a hardware store. Now, for a newly planted tree like this, you might want to do that twice a week. Once its established after the first year, once a week is sufficient. If were getting good rainfall, an inch of rain, then you can wait a week or so to water again, but it all depends on soil content, air temperature, amount of sun, how young or how old the tree is. Use one inch a week as a guideline. When you water make sure you are getting water right to the root zone. If you want to use a sprinkler, that's fine, but make sure youre getting water right to the tree. I like to hand water with something like a water wand, that way I can see the water soaking into the root zone. I know its getting water. I know its not running off or being wasted. Its best to water in the morning when temperatures are cool, that way theres less evaporation. It also means the water is there when the plant needs it. As the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, the demand for water is greatest, so applying that water in the morning means its there midday when the plant needs it. Thats important, we dont want to waste water.

Mitch....I am in love by pjinhergarden at 08/12/09 08:06PM Flag

Hey I loved your segments on planting a tree or scrub....thank you! I wish I had about four of you to help me around my 1 acre yard....I am so glad to find this website....technology is GREAT. pj

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